Philippines, 10 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


UNDEFEATED FLINT NATIVE ARDREAL HOLMES JR. SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS USBA JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER HUGO NORIEGA

PhilBoxing.com




FLINT, MICHIGAN – Sept. 12, 2024 – Flint’s reigning USBA Junior Middleweight Champion Ardreal Holmes Jr (16-0, 6 KOs) thrilled the hometown crowd and retained his crown for a second time by recording a 10-round unanimous decision (97-93 twice and 96-94) over Cuban Hugo Noriega (10-3, 5 KOs) Thursday on DAZN from the Dort Financial Center.

The co-feature and Great Lakes State battle saw Grand Rapids, Mich., native Joseph Hicks (11-0, 7 KOs) add to his perfect record by registering an eight-round unanimous decision over Detroit’s Ronnie Austion (10-3, 7 KOs). The judges scored the contest 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74.

In the second television bout, Da’Velle Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) of Detroit floored Esau Herrera De La Cruz (21-18-1, 8 KOs) seconds after the opening bell and recorded his seventh knockout in nine career bouts. After hitting the canvas a second time, De La Cruz was counted out at 1:08 of the fourth round.

Opening the highly anticipated main card, phenomenal Flint fighter Leon Lawson III (16-1, 9 KOs), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, destroyed Argentinian Luis Alberto Veron (20-9-2, 9 KOs) and earned his second straight TKO when the referee stopped the contest at 0:37 of the fourth round.

In preliminary action featuring ferocious Flint fisticuffs, local prospects Jaquan McElroy (third-round TKO over Lamar Bolden), Darrion Lawson (first-round KO of Isaiah Cobbs), and Christopher Thompson (first-round TKO over Eric Hadley) remained undefeated, while Deandre Savage fought to a no decision against KeShawn Jackson when the referee stopped the contest at 2:55 of round two after Jackson was hit while still on the canvas.

USBA JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – 10 ROUNDS
Ardreal Holmes Jr. (16-0, 6 KOs) triumphed over Hugo Noriega (10-3, 5 KOs) via unanimous decision.
Scorecards: 97-93 twice and 96-94

“It’s a dream come true,” Holmes said. “To be able to share the card with my brother and fight in front of my hometown was amazing and I am ready to do it again. I fought a really tough guy in Noriega. Cuba has some of the best fighters in the world. I appreciate him coming out and bringing the intensity. It makes me that much better.”

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CO-FEATURE BOUT – 8 ROUNDS
Joseph Hicks (11-0, 7 KOs) defeated Ronnie Austion (10-3, 7 KOs) via unanimous decision
Scorecards: 80-72, 79-73, 78-74

MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS
Da’Velle Smith (9-0, 7 KOs) fourth-round KO (1:08) over Esau Herrera De La Cruz (21-18-1, 8 KOs)
“The atmosphere was great,” said Smith. “The fans definitely wanted to see me get him (De La Cruz) out of there and finish him. I expected to dominate in great fashion. I could have done better, and there are still things I need to tighten up. I haven’t fought in about seven months, so I thought I did pretty good.”

SUPER WELTERWEIGHT MAINCARD BOUT – 8 ROUNDS
Leon Lawson III (16-1, 9 KOs) stopped Luis Alberto Veron (20-9-2, 9 KOs) via fourth-round TKO (0:37).




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Blood, Grit, and Iron: Zhu Outlasts Abne in a Cebu War
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!"
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Laurente to promote amateur boxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • ‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland!
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Kulog at Kidlat: Boxing, Art, Thunder and Lightning at the 3rd Pacquiao–Elorde Awards
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Camique forced to fight after food poisoning; hospitalized after losing by UD
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Tony Tolj Previews Thunderdome 54
    , Tue, 05 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.